The Newsletter of the Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation

CLEFNOTES

CO N T E N T S 2 FROM THE DIRECTOR

2 BATTERMAN FOUNDATION

3 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

4 WE’RE BRANCHING OUT

6 SUPERHERO STUDENTS

7 NEWS & NOTES

8 CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES

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Young Superheroes Fight Unhealthy Habits! See page 6

> Superheroes at St. Paul School-Grand Crossing

O U R M I S S I O NThe mission of the Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation is to empower Lutheran Schools to deliver innovative, quality education in a Christian

environment.

O U R V I S I O NOur vision is that children in Chicagoland have the opportunity to experience Christ’s love and grace through a high-quality, Christian values-based education, in order to reach their potential and fulfill their vocation.

Dear Friends:

All of a sudden it seems like we’re right in the middle of the “Dog Days” of summer. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the “Dog Days of Summer” are defined as those days between July 3 and August 11. This is the period when Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, rises and sets with the sun. The ancient Romans thought this brightest of stars gave off extra heat, and thus the summer days when Sirius is most closely aligned with the sun are known as the “Dog Days.”

While these days can be hot and humid, for many they also are welcome vacation days of refreshment, rest, and renewal. This is especially true for many of

FROM THE DIRECTOR

our dedicated educators, real life everyday-heroes that include each of CLEF’s pastors, principals, teachers, staff, and associates.

The everyday-heroes of CLEF don’t fly, wear capes, or colorful masks, but they do have superpowers, known as Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Their superpowers originate from a faithful servant’s heart, which inspires and directs everything they do. Daily, through their words and deeds, they reflect the Good News of God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Each child is blessed and nurtured by these special gifts.

Other everyday-heroes, blessed with a servant’s heart, include CLEF’s Board of Directors, our many faithful donors, our Community Partners and countless others who support

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C L E F B O A R D

CHAIRMANJay Christopher

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARDMichael T. Welch

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJeffrey L. BlackmanRoland FilippiEunice MattesTerry E. PfortmillerKevin Preloger Ann Marie RundioMarilyn Schawk Rich SchubkegelPaul D. SoderholmRichard C. VieSteve WildBrenna Woodley

DIRECTOR EMERITUSAlfred E. Steinhaus

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORJanet Klotz

BATTERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

The legacy of William Mattes, a CLEF founding board member, continues to shine a light upon our school communities. The Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation, Inc. recently gave a generous grant in honor of the late William Mattes, who so graciously supported Lutheran education and the mission of CLEF. This grant will help provide new windows at Pilgrim Lutheran School, a new roof at Grace Christian Academy and tuckpointing repair at St. John’s Lutheran School.

The window installation project gets underway in July and is scheduled to be completed in August before students return to their classrooms. The Pilgrim school and church community has worked tirelessly to raise funds through their Windows into the Future capital campaign. While students experience a warm and inviting atmosphere in each of Pilgrim’s classrooms, a visit to the school on a cold winter day or a 95-degree day in September quickly reveals why the classrooms are uncomfortable, as the old windows get the full effect of sun and wind throughout the year.“We are truly blessed,” says Chris Comella, Pilgrim principal. “We are so grateful for the contributions as the windows will be installed this summer!”

A new roof at Grace Christian Academy will mean safer classrooms and a better environment for students to learn.

our mission of academic excellence grounded in Christian values and teaching.

Faithful, heroic servants all. Truly, nothing is more essential for our children’s future in these challenging times of moral and spiritual ambiguity. Each day I am thankful and humbled by all who have answered God’s call for faithful servants with, “Here am I, send me, send me.” If that isn’t the real definition of a super, everyday-hero, I don’t know what is.

Blessings,

Janet Klotz Executive Director

Thank youCLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

TO CLEF’S ALL STAR COMMUNITY PARTNERSFOR SUPPORTING OUR MISSION AND THE SCHOLARSHIP GALA.

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc. Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Thank you

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

TO CLEF’S ALL STAR COMMUNITY PARTNERSFOR SUPPORTING OUR MISSION AND THE SCHOLARSHIP GALA.

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc. Phillips Security Consulting

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UKANDU, Inc.

Phillips Security Consulting

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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT!

WELCOME HUTTER ARCHITECTS

CLEF proudly welcomes Hutter Architects as a new Community Partner! Hutter Architects provides architectural services for projects ranging from large to small, newly built or remodeled, for residential or business, for the end-user or investor. Whatever the nature and

scope of the project, the most important task is to partner with clients to take their vision and refine it to the point that it is completely captured in a set of drawings. The firm is committed to designs that go beyond appearances and provide a long-lasting positive impact on the world around us. Hutter Architects has been instrumental in a wide range of projects at CLEF schools, and they look forward to working together on many more. www.hutterarchitects.com

EMPOWER LUTHERAN SCHOOL STUDENTS BY INVESTING IN KIDS

As we look forward to a new school year, we’re grateful for the continued opportunity to help support student scholarships. The Illinois Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program provides students with access to scholarships that can cover up to 100% of tuition and fees. Supporters donate through a Scholarship

Granting Organization (SGO) and receive a state income tax credit equal to 75% of their donation. Demand for scholarships has been strong, far outpacing available funds. Please consider a gift to Empower Illinois, our partner SGO, designated for CLEF scholarships. A $5,000 donation could fund a year of Lutheran education for a student from a low-income family at a net cost of only $1,250 to the donor. Gifts in any amount are welcome and will be combined with other donations to bless a child with the life-changing gift of a Christ centered education. This is an amazing opportunity to support Lutheran education and significantly reduce your state income tax bill at the same time. Given recent changes to federal tax law, an Illinois income tax credit may bring far more benefit than a federal charitable deduction.

To learn more, please contact the CLEF office at (630) 595-9310, email: clef@clefchicago.org or check out our special newsletter at www.bit.ly/CLEF-SGO.

“We’re very excited to no longer have rooms that leak and the ability to repair some interior water damage!” says Carlo Giannotta, Grace Christian Academy principal. “Without this work, other important work that has happened over the past few years, such as tuckpointing, would be ruined. This will keep that work intact and give us a fresh start.”

Tuckpointing repair on St. John’s brick exterior will make it possible for the school to repair water damage in a stairwell that students take to get to classrooms daily. CLEF Community Partner Holman & Natchwey Co., Inc. performed both the Grace Christian roof and St. John’s tuckpointing work made possible by this grant.

“The students, staff and members of St. John’s would like to extend our thanks to the Batterman Foundation for the generous grant that we received to repair the northwest wall of our school,” says Dan Green, St. John’s principal. “The work has been completed and the wall is beautiful. New bricks had to be purchased but they match the existing structure perfectly. We can now address the inside walls and ceiling tiles that were damaged by water. This will make for a more attractive building for prospective new families and will allow our current students to learn in in a safe, comfortable and clean environment. St. John’s could not have done this work without the grant from the Batterman Foundation. We are extremely grateful!”

CLEF extends our heartfelt thanks to the Batterman Family Foundation for sharing this generous grant with our CLEF schools and honoring the memory of William Mattes.

CLEF COMMUNITY PARTNERS

WE’ R E B R A N C H I N G O U T !

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Working in partnership with CLEF, our 22 partner schools are

$832,756 in scholarship support thanks to our generous donors and 2019 Gala attendees!

Screening and/or special education Services for 130 elementary students with Special Education Coordinator Cheryl Saiki.

Workshop for school board leaders, principals and pastors sponsored by CLEF.

Stirred to Love partners urban and suburban school students and their principals together thanks

to the partnership between CLEF and the Northern Illinois District. Students pray, worship and work on

service projects together.

Seventeen CLEF High School Scholars were honored at our fourth annual Scholarship

Breakfast. Pictured is Walther Christian Academy Graduate Emily Leonard who took

courses at Concordia University Chicago while in high school. Emily soon will begin

her freshman year at Concordia and already earned a semester of college credit!

rooted in faith and committed to educational excellence!DONATE TODAY! Go to http://bit.ly/CLEFDonate to donate to support student scholarships and our programs!

WE’ R E B R A N C H I N G O U T !

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Technology support from dedicated Instructional Technology Coordinator

Rachel Swanson and Chromebooks to support innovative learning.

School Nurse Pat Braun conducted over 1,900 hearing or vision screenings for CLEF students.

Workshop for school board leaders, principals and pastors sponsored by CLEF.

42 teacher dreams funded to enhance classroom instruction and experiences for students!

3,293 hours of professional development, and leadership coaching for school leaders. Eight coaches worked with 119 teachers, providing 2,405 hours of instructional coaching.

Over $630,000 in teacher salary support!

rooted in faith and committed to educational excellence!DONATE TODAY! Go to http://bit.ly/CLEFDonate to donate to support student scholarships and our programs!

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A caped crusader is unleashing her nursing superpowers to fight sugar, inactivity and unhealthy habits in our Lutheran schools. Joining in this fight are empowered superhero educators determined to make a difference in students’ lives by teaching healthy habits.

CLEF School Nurse Patricia “Pat” Braun is leading the superhero charge with a pilot wellness program that educates students, parents and teachers on how to keep kids healthy, active, fit and safe! Thanks to the support of CLEF and Lutherans in Medical Missions, six schools including St. Paul-Austin, Our Saviour, St. Paul-Grand Crossing, Grace English, Christ the King and Good Shepherd Christian Academy participated in the program to create lifelong healthy habits for these superhero students.

Nurse Pat visited schools from January to May bringing lessons about good heart, dental and mental health. She shared fun and energetic videos to get students moving and dancing like fit and fun superheroes. Plus, students learned the importance of practicing gratitude and kindness along with practical safety tips such as playground safety. For older students, Pat also incorporated technology safety. At the culmination of the program, students graduate by earning a cape and mask to wear as a constant reminder to unleash their superhero powers to live safe, healthy and happy lives every day!

The superhero program not only is a fun activity that gets kids charged up about healthy practices it is making a daily difference in their lives!

“My students always talk about health, and how they want to grow up to be big and strong

superheroes,” says Ashley Strong, a preschool teacher at St. Paul Lutheran-Austin. “I love that my students have fun while they are singing and dancing. I’m so thankful for Nurse Pat for bringing this program to our school and introducing it to my classroom.”

CREATING BIG & STRONG

SUPERHEROES!

shazam!

pow!

Strong reported that the St. Paul parents loved this program because they are seeing how Nurse Pat’s lessons are trickling into their everyday lives. One parent reported overhearing their child talking to another child on the playground about not practicing playground safety. The child told the other child, “The nurse at my school said it’s not safe to walk up the slide, we are only supposed to slide down it.”

Another parent shared how on a recent visit to the dentist her child proclaimed that she was going to stop eating candy and sugar, so her teeth can be nice and healthy like she learned from Nurse Pat. And then the young student went on to ask the dentist if she had any cavities and how many teeth did she have in her mouth. Before the visit was over she even asked why the dentist wasn’t brushing her teeth in a circle. The dentist was impressed with how much the young patient knew about her teeth and the health of her body at the age of three.

SUPERHERO STUDENTS

FIGHT FOR HEALTHY

HABITS!

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shazam! wham!

wow!

NEWS & NOTES

PILGRIM HOP-N-STOP!CLEF Special Educator Coordinator Cheryl Saiki, a Pilgrim parishioner, and Pilgrim graduate Hope Johnson were featured on the North Center Chamber of Commerce Facebook page handing out palm crosses, candy and information about the school at the annual Hop-N-Stop.

PRESCHOOL PERFECTION!Thanks to CLEF and its Renovation Partners Hutter Architects, Ltd. and Sarah Building Supply, Inc., St. Paul-Austin students enjoyed a renovated preschool this year that’s bright and cheery following a flooded classroom last spring.

GIRLS ON THE RUN!CLEF Programs Coordinator and Chicago Marathoner Megan Smith joined Grace Christian Academy students weekly to share her running tips via the Girls on the Run program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experienced-based running program. The program also includes a service project; Grace Christian’s team decided to go the extra mile and take on two! The girls hosted a bake sale fundraiser and created blankets for those in need.

WALTHER AWARD WINNERCongratulations to Walther Middle School STEM Teacher Vanessa Ueltzen! She recently was recognized at the National Science Teachers Association Conference. Vanessa was a conference speaker and one of four instructors awarded a grant to build classroom escape room assessments. Plus, Vanessa’s STEM classrooms and education have been supported by CLEF grants.

Healthy habits start at home so Nurse Pat included curriculum elements to engage parents in the program. A St. Paul student even surprised his mom by

asking for water instead of juice with dinner. He told his mom that he is supposed to drink four cups of water every day because he is four and that it is very important to drink water to keep his body healthy.

Susan Viray, a Good Shepherd Christian Academy teacher, explains how the superhero program has helped her

young students.

“The whole program helped my students know themselves better,” Viray says. “Self-awareness is a powerful tool. We love

working with Nurse Pat. She’s a SuperNurse.”

An important aspect of the pilot program was getting the whole family involved in supercharging student’s healthy habits.

“As parents we can help them and work on it as a family,” said a Good Shepherd first grade parent.

Another parent liked the program because its sparks conversation about healthy habits.

“I love it!” said the parent of a Good Shepherd first grader. “It is a very creative program and keeps my son’s brain going! It is great for many conversations!”

CLEF “SuperNurse” Pat hopes to expand the pilot Superhero Wellness program to additional schools giving more students the opportunity to become healthy superheroes. If you would like to help Nurse Pat and teachers unleash superhero healthy powers to more students, donate to CLEF today. Go to http://bit.ly/CLEFDonate to donate to this program (or any of CLEF programs, scholarships or teacher dreams) or simply send us your generous gift in the enclosed CLEF donation envelope.

TAKING

A BITE OUT OFBAD HABITS

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CONGRATULATIONS CLEF GRADUATES!

SAVE THE DATES!

2019 NETWORKING CONFERENCE

MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2019

WALTHER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

2020 GALA

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2020

MORTON ARBORETUM

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!